Plants to Grow Under

BLACK WALNUT TREES

Planting near a black walnut tree (Juglans nigra) requires special precautions. The root bark of the free gives off a toxin which, when contacted by roots of other plants, may be extremely harmful. Further, soil under a black walnut tends to be quite alkaline in comparison to soil not within the trees root spread.

The following list identifies trees, shrubs and perennials which research teams observed growing within the root spread of black walnuts. White Kentucky Bluegrass and Black Rasberry literally thrive under the trees, the same may not be true for all plants listed. These plants are suggestions and we do not mean to imply a 100% success rate with them. Do not plant materials not contained on these lists; and be sure to plant away from the lateral roots of these trees.

 

Trees to Plant Under Black Walnuts                  

Acer rubrum                                          Red Maple                                   

Acer saccharum                                  Sugar Maple          

Amelanchier canadensis                  Serviceberry           

Betula nigra                                          River Birch             

Cercis canadensis                             Eastern Redbud                    

Cornus florida                                      Flowering Dogwood

Crataegus spp.                                    Hawthorn               

Fagus grandifolia                                American Beech   

Fraxinus americana                            White Ash               

Gleditsia triacanthos                                                           

   var. Inermis                                        Honeylocust

Halesia carolina                                  Carolina Silverbell

Hamamelis virginiana                        Witchhazel           

Ilex opaca                                              American Holly

Liquididambar styraciflua                  American Sweetgum

Liriodendron tulipifera                        Tuliptree

Nyssa sylvatica                                    Black Gum

Picea abies                                          Norway Spruce

Pinus strobus                                      White Pine

Platanus occidentalis                         Sycamore

Quercus rubra                                      Red Oak

Quercus coccinea                               Scarlet Oak

Thuja occidentalis                               Arborvitae

lilia americana                                     Basswood

Tsuga canadensis                              Canadian Hemlock

Viburnum prunifolium                         Blackhawk Viburnum

 

Shrubs to Plant under Black Walnuts

Celastrus scandens                          American Bittersweet

Chionanthus virginicus                     White Fringetree

Clematis virginiana                            Virginsbower

Cornus alternifolia                              Pagoda Dogwood

Hypericum prolificum                        Shrubby St. Johnswort

Physocarpus opulifolius                   Ninebark

Rubus spp.                                          Blackberry

Viburnum dendatum                          Arrowwood Viburnum

 

 

Perennials to Plant under Black Walnuts

Achillea millefolium                            Common Yarrow

Anenome spp.                                     Thimbleweed

Antennaria spp.                                   Pussy’s Toes

Arisaenia triphyllum                            Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Asplenium platyneuron                      Ebony Spleenwort

Aster spp.                                              Aster

Athyrium thelypteroides                      Silvery Spleenwort

Cassia marilandica                            Wild Senna

Dennstaedtia punctilobula                Hay-Scented Fern

Dryopteris                                             Marginal Shield Fern

Erigeron spp.                                       Philadelphia Flea bane

Eupatorium coelestinum                   Mist-flower

Eupatorium purpureum                     Joe-Pye Weed

Galium spp.                                          Sweet Woodruff

Geranium spp.                                     Wild Geranium

Geum spp.                                            Avens

Helenium spp.                                     Sneezeweed

Helianthus spp.                                   Sunflower

Heuchera spp.                                     Alum Root

Lespedeza spp.                                   Bush Clover

Lobelia syphilitica                                Great Lobelia

Oenothera spp                                     Evening Primrose

Oneclea spp.                                        Sensitive Fern

Osmunda cinnamomea                    Cinnamon Fern

Podophyllum peltatum                       May Apple

Polystichum acrostichoides              Christmas Fern

Pscnanthemum spp.                          Mountain Mint

Rudbeckia hirta                                   Brown-eyed Susan

Sedum tematum                                 Stonecrop

Sisyrinchium spp.                                Blue-eyed Grass

Solidago spp.                                       Goldenrod

Verbascum spp.                                  Common Mullein

Veronica spp.                                       Ironweed

Viola spp.                                              Violet

Woodsia obtusa                                  Obtuse Woodsia

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